Modification of multi-area economic dispatch with multiple fuel options, considering the fuelling limitations

Nowadays, using the units with multiple fuel options is one of the ways to reduce the generation costs and increase the reliability in modern power plants. In such power plants, the minimum generation cost is achieved via selecting the optimal fuel types. Here, the fuelling conditions and limitations of different fuel types indeed have determinative roles, because they not only can significantly influence the system operation point and optimal generation dispatch, but also they certainly affect the fuel consumption cost and the electricity price, as well. This study aims to develop and solve a novel type of multi-area economic dispatch with multiple fuel options, which also considers the mathematical model of the fuelling constraints. Thus, the system operating conditions are modelled in a more realistic way in which all the models of the power plants as well as their fuelling systems are well regarded. This consequently yields a more accurate generation dispatch that can indeed reduce the generation costs, increase the fuelling reliability and subsequently increase the entire system reliability in the actual power systems in which the fuelling constraints are essential and determinative.